Space Invaders, Do You Come In Peace?

By Amanda Kurth
Published: 02/21/22 Topics: Comments: 0

Visitors to the Garden Island have little idea they share land, sea and air with the military and big-wig defense contractors occupying 2,385 acres at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), just an hour due west from the Lihue airport.

But just as Kaua’i is a major center for scientific study possessing state of the art resources, this ancient, once soggy stretch of low land, long ago exhausted to grow sugar cane, is today home to reaps of GMO crops that form a buffer around the base, where it remains terra incognita.

When imagining Kaua’i, perhaps you envision paddleboarding, thundering waterfalls and lush gardens, feral chickens or whale watching along the famed Na Pali coast tour.

What would not come to mind are the advanced hypersonic weapons, ballistic missile defense testing, predator drones, low-earth orbit intercepts and sophisticated tracking systems that monitor activities near and far, like that of unidentified flying objects (UFO).

February 14, a “balloon” prompted jets to scramble over Kaua’i and investigate any malfeasance or intrusion.

According to Maj. Gen. Kenneth S. Hara, Hawaii’s adjutant general; an official statement via Twitter asserted in the first of three tweets, “Indo-Pacific Command detected a high-altitude object floating in the air in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands. In accordance with homeland defense procedures, Pacific Air Forces launched tactical aircraft to intercept and identify the object, visually confirming an unmanned balloon without observable identification markings.”

The Valentine’s Day aerial mystery remains just that. The incident has been corroborated by the US Pacific Air Forces. However, no further details have been released. The matter is still, as of today, under investigation.

What is clear through many online forums is that local eyewitnesses have substantiated official reports of a military unit sent on reconnaissance outfitted with F-22A Raptors, the only of their kind stationed in Hawai’i.

It wouldn't be the first time Kaua’i has attracted other-worldly phenomenon.

Barking Sands, the area where PMRF is situated, sounds like the stuff of legends. From the sugar era to the space age, the nearly eight-mile stretch of sand was once home to an old Hawaiian fisherman and his nine dogs.

One day as he prepared his fishing canoe, he tied the dogs to stakes, three to each, as he had done every morning.

While out at sea, he was caught in an unexpected storm, wrestling the angry waves until he could return ashore.

His strength shattered, and his body became heavy. He forgot to untie the dogs as he summoned the strength to crawl into his hut.

The next morning, he went outside and did not see them.

In their place buried were mounds of sand.

As he began to dig, each shovelful removed was filled with more earth, and still, he could not find his dogs.

Every day after that when he crossed the beach where he last saw them, he heard the dogs barking low beneath his feet.

Native Hawaiians trace their origins from the Pleiades star system called the Akua. But were these islands already inhabited by extraterrestrials?

Is it possible that Hawaii’s volcanic activity attracted other intelligent life forms to harness the immense geo-energy it produces?

History Channel’s Ancient Alien’s narrator voice aside, let us go full kimono here and talk story.

Looking back, American social traditions transformed in the mid-20th century, specifically around issues of race, gender and sexuality.

According to historian W. Scott Poole, the first science-fiction fantasies of aliens could have been a way of processing these social adjustments.

For example, in 1967, the Supreme Court finally proclaimed that laws banning interracial marriage were unconstitutional.

What is even more interesting is that the country had already been talking for years about Betty and Barney Hill, an interracial couple who purportedly were abducted by a UFO and its occupants.

Back in 1961, Kaua’i too played host to several alien encounters.

That fall, Masa Arita of Lihue took a photograph of a silver orb above Kalapaki Beach.

The next week, Ed Roberson of Lihue reported a flying disk between the KTOH radio tower on Ahukini Road and Lihue town.

Earlier in 1950, The Garden Island newspaper reported Hawaiian Canneries manager Albert Horner of Wailua, Ben Iida of Lihue, Ben Ohai of Kapa’a and Kumanosuke Fujita near Knudsen’s Gap recounted seeing strange objects.

More recently, in 2020, Hawai’i residents discovered a mysterious blue light surging through the dark horizon.

Multiple witnesses took video of the object, and one woman on O’ahu even followed it in her car before the light plunged into the nearby coastal waters.

The late U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye also did not seek theatrics. He humbly formed a band of truth-seekers reigniting a passionate fascination with the phenomena.

Conspiracy junkies were soon presented with the opportunity to digest the throngs of truly awesome and outlandish theories.

But for all intents and purposes, 2007 proved to be a good year to secretly funnel $22 million to the Pentagon’s clandestine budget for UFO research.

The current scope and force of interest in this subject have one asking if the gods of antiquity merely are personifications of the beings that have already visited us.

The urge to investigate and trust in the paranormal is all-consuming at times from a writer’s point of view, almost religious in devout hope.

When we want to understand something strange, something previously unknown to anyone, we must begin with a standard set of questions. Aloha space invaders, do you come in peace?

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Author: Amanda Kurth
Blog #: 0859 – 02/21/22

Cacao To Chocolate: Hawaiian Style

By Amanda Kurth
Published: 01/31/22 Topics: Comments: 0

Once upon a time, on a tiny little rock in the Central Pacific, there came to these shores a special plant: Theobroma Cacao. Replete with a plethora of varied exteriors, the unusual interior of the pod is not what one would expect. Nor does its slick and fresh crunch evoke any fleeting thoughts of chocolate. It tastes more like when Mom tried to get you to eat something gross for dinner but failed to tell you what white and pulpy mystery ingredient she garnished it with. After all, I am from the Pacific Northwest and last week's upset over similar fruit was not promising.

The world already knew of chocolate’s decadence by the mid-19th century when any interest in cultivating cacao took hold through the islands.

Initially, the evergreen was established in the gardens of an agricultural advisor to King David Kalakaua in the 1830s. Although it took nearly eight decades before Hawaiian farmers were finally weaving it into their crops commercially, German physician Wilhelm Hillebrand is widely thought to have introduced the plant to O’ahu. And of his multitude of side hustles, Hillebrand had a keen curiosity for Botany. A study that piqued the interest of the Hawaiian Kingdom ultimately commissioned him to coordinate the first boatloads of immigrants to Hawaii.

The keywords here gang are sugarcane, labor and sunshine. Without it, cocoa would not be possible. Sourcing labor in antiquity had been an easy task when every seafarer was still basically a pirate. More specifically, an effortless ordeal if you had any inkling of influence as a white male.

And while I still have you nearly biting your nails during this history lesson, it should be noted debauchery arose in the wake of the excessive and disproportionate number of males to female immigrants coming to Hawai’i during that time. With ample nationalities of men in one remote place, the complete abandonment of the culture and practices of the island’s predecessors became apparent.

History is not kind and describes these transplants as becoming lazy and making a living by peddling. A practice despised by the native Hawaiian population, who used to say scornfully, "Child of a peddler!", or “Keiki a ka ma‘au‘auwa!”.

While the world's craving for chocolate grows more insatiable with each passing year, chocoholics need take note: farms around the globe are deteriorating from eras of misuse, invaded by diseases and insects. To that end, representatives from big-wig, large-scale growers on the islands have worked for nearly three decades with conservation groups to implement sustainability into their practices, specific to our respective combination of latitudes. Methods like utilizing smaller parcels of land similar to Theo’l Lady Farms in Kealia Valley, who on Kaua’i (which delivers some of the rarest cacao in the world with just a crop of about 300 trees), circumvent a lot of issues plaguing the trade. Concerns brought on by human trafficking and deforestation, let alone the poverty-stricken communities on the Ivory Coast of Southwest Africa who have become entangled in a perpetual cycle of inhumane conditions for centuries.

Chocolate’s origins branch from the people who inhabited Mesoamerica (South America). Back then, it was consumed in its purest form, much less processed than the cocoa Olmec tribes formulated thousands of years after its discovery. It was used in preparation for war, sacrifices and celebrations. Even the Aztecs used the dried seeds as currency.

Propagated today, the old classification system of the three main varieties of beans that are recognized, are no longer applicable in the current market: Criollo, Forastero, and Trinitario. The demand for variety and nuance is abundant, and Hawai’i grows all types. Pure, heirloom-quality to seedlings of new varieties.

According to the Department of Agriculture, “Cacao… is used as a medicine for healing bruises… utilized in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries… recognized as one of the compounds contributing to chocolate’s reputed role as an aphrodisiac… a diuretic and heart stimulant”.

One foot inside the Kauai Chocolate Company in Ele’ele is everything you thought you knew about your love for confection rotates nicely into a more comforting axis. Lingering is the assertive scent of something familiar. The sort of smell that makes you want to nosh like Elmer Fudd devouring his favowite meal, gwiwwed cheese in ecstasy.

The chocolate company’s most celebrated creation is like an upgrade to a Snickers. The“Opihi”, a hometown staple, looks like a flying saucer.

Layered are locally made guava Kaua’i Cookie, topped with caramel, one jeweled macadamia nut and covered by dark or milk chocolate.

Conclusively, if tidbits of ginger, toffee, peanut butter, cookie or the ever-elusive seasonal fudge are not incorporated in your recipe, please then take it elsewhere.

Retired co-owner Donald Greer is a cool guy. A former Research Engineer turned Chocolatier, Greer specialized in Fluid Dynamics at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. He succeeded in a design career and predictions for high-altitude aerodynamic flight. And after working against technological challenges in designing advanced aircraft for the next generation, he and his wife Marlene, so obviously had more terrestrial plans, moving to the 808 state to manufacture tasty, hand-crafted edible delights.

The Greer’s shop opened in the early 2000s and resides at its original launching pad. It greets you on the right in a well-kept strip mall, before the Port Allen marina, directly across from one of the last watering holes on the west side, Kaua’i Island Brewery & Grill. Its prime directive boasts abundant foot traffic and is locked into one of the better sunset positions you will ever experience in your lifetime. Particularly when the deep and northern breath of winter sends Humpback whales as proverbial eye candy.

Managing has now been left to the couple’s children and employs a fleet of young engineers of Belgian-style desserts. You can expect an above-average price point for their product, purchasing not only a small-kine community’s labor of love but also an above-average result. Cacao is a high-grade commodity. So if you try local, the impact is global.

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Author: Amanda Kurth
Blog #: 0857 – 01/31/22

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou New Year in Hawaii

By Amanda Kurth
Published: 12/08/21 Topics: Comments: 0

The ancient Hawaiian New Year festival known throughout the island chain marks the celebration of Makahiki. And this white girl wants to be a part of the conversation.

The year is 2005, and I'm on my way out of high school when a book was re-released as a limited edition. My advanced placement (AP) Literature teacher at the time picked it up and brought it into class, waxing poetic about his formative writing years.

The book was like a wild ride into another dark side of Americana. It's to Hawai'i what Fear and Loathing was to Las Vegas: the crazy tales of a journalist's "coverage."

Infamous gonzo-style writer Hunter S. Thompson describes his time on the Big Island in an article commissioned by Running Magazine to report on the Hawaii Marathon in 1980. A few years later, his book, The Curse Of Lono, was released, and only 1000 publications were ever produced.

In the book, Thompson often breaks away into excerpts of The Last Voyage of Captain Cook. And on occasion, details clobbering his ocean catches to death with Samoan war

On Kaua'i, Makahiki celebrations take off at the beginning of October with morning ceremonies at a south-shore heiau. The variance of the season's arrival depends on who you ask. This ancient celebration is a four-month period of truce, harvest, taxes, games, relaxation and mo'olelo (the Hawaiian word for story) amongst the neighboring islands.

In antiquity- women, men, and young children would mark the beginning of the Hawaiian new year when a specific collection of glittering space-gems against the black velvet drape of night. Na hiku o Makali'i (Pleiades) appeared at sunset, and the Kanaka Maoli (commoners) would invoke the bounty and protections the god Lono provided.

Often associated with 'ikua (the noisy month), Lono's visualized as storm-clad clouds, like thunder, the partial rainbow, whirlwinds, and even waterspouts.

Fast forward to the present day, Ka Moloka'i Makahiki festival has been celebrating this time of year en masse since 1981. They "are beginning to see the second and third generation of Moloka'i youths assist with the program," says Maria Holmes, a Hawaiian cultural activist who handles publicity for Ka Moloka'i Makahiki.

Her attitude is that "Education" is a major aim of the Organization. No one else in the state has a cultural program that has worked with so many youths for such a long period of time."

Sure, many families or grandfathered-in-stewards still live and work in the heart of these chartreuse and sage landscapes, passing on those traditions to the next generation. But the historical obligations and recognition of Lono, the akua of the Makahiki season, are not synonymous with how the residents of Hawai'i remember it today.

Generally speaking, Hawaiian customs and folklore live on through the margins of modern hotel resorts, replete with games and festivities for its travelers. Some schools and churches include food drives too. Items are then donated to charity and distributed island-wide throughout the holiday.

However, this season, traditions are getting a new show of appreciation by locals. Hawaii Farm Trails- a statewide concept of agri-tourism as a responsible alternative to conventional tourism, will host a Makahiki event on Kaua'i in mid-January.

Hawaii Farm Trails works closely with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Agritourism Association, USDA, Cultivate Resilience and many more to further perpetuate Hawaiian culture, food from farm to table and boundless mo'olelo.

Although the Kaua'i Festivals and Events webpage has not officially saved the date, the event is slated to begin Saturday, January 15, 2022, at 9 AM in the Lihue area of Kaua'i. It will feature ancient Hawaiian games, cultural demonstrations, displays and crafts by community groups, and ono street food.

Living in Hawaii comes with education and recognition of indebtedness. It's a privilege to live on the shores of this sea-cradled state. Where you can fancy-free night-time sparklers.

The fascinating history of this island chain consumes me every day. It's my hope that this love letter reflects my gratitude for cultural diversity in itself and expresses genuine tributes of thanks to the Hawaiian people for cultivating my curiosity.

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou

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Author: Amanda Kurth
Blog #: 0851 – 12/08/21

Pele Awakens

By Joe Giglio
Published: 11/25/21 Topics: Comments: 0

It is no secret that the Kilauea crater on Hawai’i Island has reawakened with a furious and magnificent splendor, ending Pele’s relative hiatus since the volcano’s last eruption event in 2018.

Kilauea is the only active volcano in the Hawaiian Islands, and a majority of its eruptions occur at its Halema’uma’u crater. Kilauea is well known for its angry spurts exploding lava plumes and fountains more than 30,000 feet into the air. The Kilauea crater is perched precariously on the southeastern most shore of the Big Island, cascading magma and rock debris into the sea below.

Eruptions on Big Island are often felt throughout the islands, accompanied by earthquakes and a heavy volcanic fog cover that distributes across the archipelago. The Halema’uma’u crater is considered by Hawaiians to be the sacred home and body of Pele the goddess of fire, lightning, wind, and volcanoes.

She is credited with forging the Hawaiian Islands and is referred to as Madame Pele or Tutu Pele. Ancient legend describes Pele as the offspring of Haumea, the deity of fertility and childbirth. She is said to have had many brothers and sisters in deities of water, waves, clouds, wind, rain, and other elements. Legend tells how Pele lit a fire on the islands as she traveled from Tahiti to Hawai’i. Her sister Namaka chased and fought Pele, having battles on many of the islands. Pele was eventually killed, her body destroyed, and her spirit preserved in the crater at Kilauea.

Hawaiian culture describes Pele’s body as the steam and lava erupting from Kilauea, and geologists have connected that spirituality and cultural significance in many aspects of their volcanic classifications. Several volcanic phenomena unique to Kilauea have been named after Pele with geological features like Pele’s hair, Pele’s tears, and Limu o Pele.

Her spirit can take many forms, and many residents claim to have witnessed her walking along the roads in the Volcano National Park, vanishing if a passerby stops to help her. A friend of mine raised in Hilo told me if I ever drove through Volcanoes at night and saw a woman with white hair on the side of the road, I need to pick her up because that is Pele’s spirit. Pele may appear in many forms but is most commonly seen as a mysterious old woman with white hair, a beautiful young woman accompanied by a dog, and dressed in a red muumuu. Her appearance is thought to offer a warning of impending eruptions, and you will succumb to misfortune if you do not stop to help her at night.

Other legends surrounding Pele, Kilauea, and the Hawaiian Islands are Pele’s Curse employing bad luck on anything or anyone who takes objects away from Hawai’i. The curse is often associated with sand, rock, and pumice taken from sacred places, creating bad luck for whoever took it until they return it to Hawai’i. The origin of Pele’s Curse is thought to originate in the mid-20th century as tourist industries created the Hawaiian taboo to fuel the native lore of the volcanoes or discourage taking rocks and minerals from the park. Many natural items are received every year by mail at the Volcanoes’ National Park Service, as tourists seek Pele’s forgiveness for taking earthen materials.

No matter who started the legend of Pele’s Curse, it is a well-established aspect of Hawaiian cultural identity and the lore surrounding the islands. National Parks have since made it illegal to take any rocks, minerals, or materials out of the park, further protecting the valuable resources and sacred region.

Pele is intertwined in Hawaiian culture, and there are many hula dances dedicated to her intense prowess and the sheer power of the volcanoes. Hawaiian art, stories, and language are saturated with Pele’s origins and her journey throughout Hawai’i. She embodies power, beauty, fire, and passion. Her presence indicates rebirth and the growth of new land while also shrouded in destruction.

What does Pele awakening bode for Hawai’i today and into the future? As Pele awakened in late 2021 with a wondrous summit eruption and crater Lava Lake, tourists and national coverage were once again focused on the Big Island. People from all over the world flocked to the steep park slopes of the crater walls to witness the fiery inferno of Pele and her home. With the pandemic nearing an end and restrictions easing, many more tourists are likely to take their chance to see Kilauea as global travel begins to resume. Tourists and travelers should check the United States Geological Survey website for the Kilauea Volcano Updates to ensure their trip will coincide with an active event.

The Halema’uma’u crater is subject to rapid and unannounced changes, and active eruptions are not often sustained for long periods of time.

Increased tourism will lend a helping hand to the damaged local economy after multiple lockdowns the state has faced over 2020 and 2021 but it is too soon to tell how local populations will react to increasing traffic returning toward pre-pandemic levels. Maui already experienced overcrowding as tourism began to open there earlier this year. The new eruption also emits a warning to nearby residents who are all too familiar with the destruction posed by Kilauea and Pele.

The previous eruption event lasted from 2008 to 2018, erupting lava flows over the eastern rift zone into the surrounding Kalpana and Kaimu communities. Lava destroyed property and created new land before continuing into the Puna district toward the end of the eruption. Many of the affected residents in the region had to deal with a uniquely Hawaiian law that states any new land created by the erupting volcano voids any prior ownership claims on the area. Damaged property will remain as the property owner’s but requires reassessment for evaluation.

No matter what is in store for the island’s future, tourists and locals should keep an eye out for Pele because she is awake, and her spirit is alive and thriving in Hawai’i.

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Author: Joe Giglio – Travel Blogger
Blog #: 0839 – 11/25/21

Why Tip? - Lodging Newsletter February 28, 2021

By Wm, May
Published: 02/28/21 Topics: AirBnB, Branding, Channel Management, Lodging Newsletter, Vacation Rental Management, Vacation Rentals Comments: 0

A new vacation rental landlord was appalled to find that the management firm put "Housekeeper Tip Envelopes" into homes. She incorrectly concluded that the housekeepers were not paid sufficiently.

Seems she has no idea how to be in the hospitality industry. Certainly housekeepers appreciate tips, but tips are not really there for the money.

• Tips show appreciation.
• Tips show recognition of the hard work.
• Tips show respect for undesirable work.
• Tips are the price you pay to avoid the job.
• Tips show you are a kind person.

Maybe if she scrubbed floors, unclogged toilets, and pushed a vacuum until her hands grew callouses, and did it for years on end, just maybe she would begin to feel what it's like to be disrespected.

During the Covid crisis, it has been reported that customers are tipping restaurant servers, delivery drivers, and other service people, less than ever before. Of course, some consumers have less money available to leave tips, but for everyone else - shame on us.

Millions have lost jobs. Some have taken positions at lower wages. Some have been forced into part-time work. So now is the time to show more respect for people, not less.

Without much forethought our family has been trying to tip higher than usual nowadays. But this ungrateful client gave us a brand new idea. Not only is it time to tip everyone well, maybe it's time to start a movement - it's time to double tip everyone.

Tonight we stopped for fast-food take-out and tipped $20 on a $25 order, plus a big heartfelt THANK YOU to people willing to work in a steamy hot restaurant kitchen so we could have an easy meal.

The wonderful young clerk said, "Oh, that’s too much." To which we had to say, "Oh no, that’s just right." And the best part of tipping double is that you will get more out of it than the recipient. Generosity always benefits the giver.

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Do we brag too much in these newsletter? Or maybe we promote too little, because it is our duty to help clients make a good decision when choosing to become vacation rental landlords.

There are signficant differences in how to run a vacation rental, how to hire a thoroughly competent managers, how to deal with guests, what to think about all the advertising websites and their usurious fees. And even bigger issues confront someone cavalierly deciding to become a "Do It Yourself" owner.

Why would anyone want to DIY vacation rental management? There are those who need a hobby. Some feel it would be a joy to "talk" with guests. Some love the idea of sharing a home they are so proud of.

Those reasons are fine, of course, but the hidden factor in lodging managemement is that guests don't care about what owners want. It's not about the owner, it's about the guest.

Any owner can feel some success because, with today's online websites, most anyone, for most any kind of property can secure some bookings. But getting some bookings and getting all bookings at the highest possible rates is just not possible for most owners.

As the old saying goes, "Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and then."

So the question is how much are owners losing by going Do it Yourself?

Without the kind of completely comprehensive marketing, advertising, distribution, cross selling, hospitality grade cleaning, quick maintenance, and reservation experts like ours, most owners are earning half what they should be earning. And working twice as hard.

A HomeAway.com study revealed that owners spend an average of 9.2 hours per week dealing with rental issues. And some of those are in the middle of the night.

Self managing may give owners a sense of control, but unfortunately many such owners are overly selfish and fail at the good hospitality test. Some think they are "cutting out the middle man" (manager's fee), but most are actually cutting their income and increasing their work greatly.

By speaking with hundreds of guests on the phone each week, we hear them scream complaints about dealing with owners directly. They talk about owners who are non-responsive, not clean enough, rude and demanding. Not everyone is cut out to be in the hospitality industry.

If you don’t love people, even when they are difficult, you can't succeed fully in this business.

During Covid we have received calls from DIY owners everyday whose housekeepers failed to show up to clean. These owners lived hundreds or thousands of miles from their rental homes. They thought all they needed was someone to come over immediately to clean their homes,

They begged, "Hey can you help me out just this one time?"

We helped where we could, but our time and allegiance must be to home owners who value the stabilty, reliablity and quality of what we do and realize the value of having a trusted management firm ready to handle every little thing.

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Author: Wm, May, Vortex Managers
Blog #: 0811 – 02/28/21

Sponsor: Vortex Organization – We train quality people to help run unique Inns, Resorts and We train quality people to help run unique Inns, Resorts and Vacation Rental Management companies in an industry that has been a webby net of technology combined with good old fashioned property, guest and owner services. – VortexManagers.com

If Jimi Hendricks, Prince, and Pavarotti Were Hawaiian

By Wm. May
Published: 05/18/20 Topics: Hawaii, Music, Self Improvement Comments: 0

Aerosmith's Steven Tyler Sings With His Uncle

This blog is not about me. But a bit of background might help. I grew up playing all kinds of music from a young age, not necessarily playing well but playing none the less.

It started with a concert level pianist mother and a father with a soaring tenor voice. I picked up a trumpet in fourth grade, met the high school band instructor and play with him for 8 years through high school.

But first there were piano and trumpet lessons and concerts with the concert band, marching band, stage band, pep band, concert orchestra and even our own little school sponsored "Tijuana Brass" imitation band called - unbelievably in 1969- the Marijuana Brass.

A the age of 13 I happened to hear some new English group called the Beatles on the radio of our tiny neighborhood store Perini's. I was hooked and started a band, then another, playing with many great musicians while we all wanted to become famous and play on the Ed Sullivan TV show.

Or at least we wanted to be swooned over by girls in the way they swooned when watching the Beatles. In 1964, at the age of 13, somehow I talked some parent into driving my bandmates and I the 100 miles to attend a Beatles concerts at the Seattle Center Coliseum.

The Beatles played in the round and the stage slowly revolved so everyone could see them. The sound equipment quality was terrible. The girls screamed so loud we could not hear the music. But we could see the magic.

I played guitar and bass in numerous rock bands and made a living at it for some years, a small living. I partnered in a sound studio, a jingle company and an advertising agency. But eventually moved on to being a fan and not a performer. It was a good run.

In the Charles Cross's biography of Seattle's rock band "Heart", Ann and Nancy Wilson revealed they too attended one of the two times the Beatles played in Seattle.

As they walked out of the concert Nancy, the younger sister, asked , "Why are they all the girls screaming?"

To which Ann said, "They all want to marry the Beatles."

Said Nancy, "We don't want to marry the Beatles, we want to be the Beatles?

And the rest is Heart rock and roll history. They became famous. I did not.

As I said, this blog isn't about me, it is only to imply that I know a little about music and I know that I achieved journeyman status at best.. Years later I stumbled upon a musician who proved it.

Hearing Uncle Willie K music on the radio in Hawaii and then seeing him perform left me flabbergasted by his talent. His skill was astounding and his versatility beyond believing. You can love music and respect the musician at the same time.

Better than all of that, he had a kind of charisma I had never seen - sheer confidence and humor. He knew he could take an audience anywhere he wanted them to go. Including his rendition of "We are the world" completed with uncanny imitations of Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen and Tina Turner. No body else can do that

Eric Gilliom, a versatile TV actor and Hawaiian music master, formed a "Hawaiian Super group" with Willie called Barefoot Natives. Before one show willie asked him what was the most money he had ever made doing a concert. When Eric said something like $10,000 willie sat down and said, "Let me see your $10,000 show tonight."

willie and Eric' sister the superlative Amy Hanaialii Gilliom became a couple and willie produce four award winning albums of their own brand of Hawaiian and other music. I loved the music before I knew who they were. As did every Hawaiian.

William Awihilima Kahaiali'I - willie K - grew up playing young at the knee of his father the nationally known and admired Manu Kahaiali'i. Willie was just one of 13 children, so his Dad played music 7 days a week to pay the bills, everything from jazz, blues and Hawaiian of course.

Maybe that is why he branched in so many musical directions. He idolized Jimi Hendricks and prince. That lead him to just about every other kind of music. He was famous for Christmas Carols, but also Salsa, Jazz and Reggae.

He was sought out and accompanied Mick Fleetwood of Fleet Mac, his solo chagrined Billy Idol of ZZ top, Prince praised him, Willy Nelson sang duets with him, but so did Alice Cooper. BB king invited him on stage, he sang with the Commodores and he laughed with comedian Jim Cary. Barack Obama played willie K loud during workouts. willie and Steven Tyler became best buddies.

Maybe they loved they guy because they felt a little like me - unworthy.

He was known through out the world for guitar and ukulele skills but 10 years ago at a local Hawaiian concert he baffled the audience when he dismissed the other musicians from stage, stood silent a long while and finally said, very somberly,

"I am very sad. Last week Pavarotti died. I think he and I were brothers. Tonight I will sing Nessum Dorma"

Afterward, 800 people sat silent and then jumped to their feet screaming "Hanna Hou" (encore). It was the start of many appearances with symphony's singing opera music. On a trip to Israel he brought Jewish congregations to tears by mastering the Israeli national nation.

In 2018, willie K announced that he had contracted a very aggressive cancer, but promised to keep performing as he always had, at every opportunity. His Maui Bluest fest continued each year. He took aggressive treatment but in the end he died quietly at his home May 18, 2020 surround by Ohana.

I didn’t know William Awihilima Kahaiali'I personally, and yet everyone who saw him perform knew him personally. The way it is with all great musicians and performers, they leave themselves, their skills, their personalities and souls on stage with all to see.

Upon hearing of willie's passing, Alice Cooper said it best, "Heaven will be in for one hell of a surprise. I can almost hear the thunderous applause."

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There are so many links because of the variety. Couldn't stop myself.

KHON TV

BILLY GIBBON ZZ TOP

HAWAIIAN

BARE FOOT NATIVES

HALLELUJAH

HAVA NAGILA

NATIONAL ANTHEM

STARTING OPERA

NESSUN DORMA

O HOLY NIGHT

SOUND CHECK

WE ARE THE WORLD

KHON TV

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Author: Wm. May – Music Fan
Blog #: 0757 – 05/18/20

Clean, Wipe, Soak, Scrub, Brush, Scour, Polish

By Ron Lee
Published: 04/18/20 Topics: Covid-19 Virus, Housekeeping, Property Management Comments: 1

How to Clean and Sanitize Vacation Rental Homes

Since our first office opened in 1964, we have been rigorously cleaning and sanitizing properties for decades. This is nothing new to us. In fact, our homes are cleaned to a degree higher than most people have at home. It has always been our commitment to have every home safe and ready for guest arrival.

Get a Real Getaway

If you need a vacation, holiday escape, spring break, fresh air and time alone, vacation rentals are the best option. Bring kids or not. Bring the family or just your spouse. Most homes are free-standing, so you can avoid crowds. Even in our condos, the homes are open corridor, so there is no need to pass through common areas, like lobbies and dark hallways.

When Guests Depart

After guests depart, housekeepers arrive at every home to clean, wipe, soak, scrub, brush, scour, mop and polish bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, common spaces and even decks and patios, linens, towels and surfaces. Hot tubs are disinfected. This entire process - called "out Clean" - takes many hours. Then homes are spot checked by managers to ensure good work. When departing, all staff members use bleach rags, so that even the door knob and key-safe are sanitized. Wow!

Sanitation Cleaning Products

We use a variety of products to clean, disinfect and sanitize. All are approved for high health standards. We still use bleach for some areas because it is still the gold standard for killing every kind of bug. In fact, if you enter a home immediately after housekeepers depart, for a few minutes you may detect a slight cleaning smell. That is your assurance of sanitization.

Bathroom Super Scrub

Cleaning bathrooms is not a fun task, but we carefully clean all sinks, mirrors, toilets, drawers, bathtubs and shower enclosures until they sparkle. But they have also been sprayed and later wiped with disinfectant. Soiled and unsoiled towels are removed before cleaning starts to avoid cross contamination. This is a hands-and-knees job, but housekeepers pride themselves on meticulous cleaning.

Proper Wipe Downs

You might think that spraying and wiping surfaces with disinfectant is sufficient, but it is not. Instead, disinfectant must be left on surfaces for a period of time before it is wiped away. This gives time for the liquid to kill all the germs.

- Door knobs inside and outside.

- Window switches.

- Light switches and sockets.

- Lamp switches.

- Cupboard doors and surfaces.

- Table tops including night stands.

- Appliances - top and sides.

- Counter tops.

- Reachable walls.

- Outdoor furniture.

- Stairs and deck handrails.

- Toasters and coffee makers.

- TV and other remote controls.

- Stereos and computers.

- Door bells and key safes.

- Toys and board games.

- Pet toys and blankets.

- And more.

Vacuuming, Mopping, Sweeping

Are you ever tempted to do floors fast? By slowing down the process and covering every floor surface carefully, dirt, grime and germs are removed. We keep equipment new and well maintained to get the best results. Housekeepers are never limited to cleaning hours. Instead, they are encouraged to take all the time they need to do the job right.

Kitchens and Dining Rooms

Kitchens get splattered on, baked in and used heavily. It is a big job, but to get kitchens spic-and-span is essential, from the stove to oven to refrigerator, but also microwaves, cupboards, fans and light fixtures. Cleaned inside and out. You will notice we remove condiments, such as ketchup and mustard left from prior guests, because leaving open containers violates health standards. You'll have to bring your own, but you'll know they are new and fresh.

Hot Tubs and Spas

Every hot tub is completely disinfected after each booking by trained staff members. Sand or debris is removed, filters are inspected, and chemicals are adjusted. In addition, the hot tub cove, top and side surfaces are disinfected. If you arrive to a tub that is not yet fully heated, please wait because we had to empty and refill it. Takes time to reheat.

Towels and Linens

Washing and drying linens and towels is an obvious step, be we wall all of them, even if a bed does not appear to have been slept in. They are transported to the washer-dryer using rubber gloves and laundry bags, and they are returned to beds in baskets to avoid cross contamination. Along with quality detergent, additional disinfectant is added to all washing to ensure germs are eradicated.

Deep Cleans

In addition to our rigorous out-clean, homes receive deep cleans regularly to cover hard to access areas, including heating ducts, cupboard sides and ceilings, high surfaces, fans, carpets and more. This takes many hours, and ensures the cleanest possible property.

When Guests Depart

You may notice that we do NOT as guests to do laundry or to remove linens and towels to the laundry area. We do it all to ensure that every textile has been washed and cleaned properly without dragging it through the house.

Call Us Quick: 206-504-2744

If at any time during your stay, if you find any issue, call our 24-7-365 day phone number for assistance. If necessary, our staff will happily come to the property to ensure all is right. And if you want daily cleaning, we can arrange that too, for a small additional fee.

Avoid Crowds, Stay in a Private, Vacation Home!

Year round, in every season, and no matter what is happening in the rest of the world, vacation rentals offer a respite from the rate race, a chance to get away and to enjoy a sparkling clean, sanitized home.

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Author: Ron Lee, Vortex Managers
Blog #: 0742 – 04/18/20